Thursday March 14th, 2002

By Alan Baldwin

Rubens Barrichello says being Michael Schumacher's teammate at Ferrari is not an easy challenge.

"If I jump into a sumo-type of fight, and I see this big guy there, I have to think that I am better than him otherwise I wouldn't go there," the Brazilian said on Thursday, ahead of Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"I would be afraid that he's going to break my head. So it's something like that," he told a news conference when asked about life at Ferrari in Schumacher's shadow.

"Everybody talks about Michael, everybody talks about the way he drives, the way he behaves. And you're there. He's your teammate."

Barrichello is now in his third season as Schumacher's teammate and, early on, he found the partnership to be traumatic, with the German the clear number one. Last season, the Brazilian was ordered to move over to allow Schumacher through and the whole team was focused primarily on the record-breaking champion's needs.

Schumacher, with 54 wins and more points scored than any other driver, has claimed most of Formula One's records and is aiming for a record-equalling fifth title this year. But Barrichello has decided to relax, stop moaning about his lot and enjoy his driving.

The policy paid an instant, albeit fortunate, dividend in Australia when he started the season-opening race on pole position.

"I come this year better prepared than at any other time," he declared when asked directly if he could beat Schumacher to the title. "Psychologically, I am just improving all the time. To think about myself and to stop thinking about what other people are doing.

Something Else

"The day I wake up and think that it won't be possible to win any more is the day that I will have to stop and do something else - horse racing in Brazil or something.

"After three years of being number two to Michael, it is quite easy to get into a position of getting less motivated but I think pole position in Melbourne was just to show that I'm working, I'm determined.

"I think that the good times will come around if I'm determined. Yes, I dream of it."

Barrichello said part of the change had been the birth of his young son Eduardo and his decision to become "more stable, less emotional.

"I'm getting less angry about small things," he said.

The relationship between the driver and Ferrari's French boss Jean Todt had also developed and Barrichello said he now felt more warmth directed at him than before.

"Yes, Jean loves to have Michael around," he said. "It's just like a son-father thing, but he likes me very much as well, he respects my job. Then you understand that he is working for you as well, he's working to take the best out of you.

"He (Todt) was in Bangkok and on Tuesday we had dinner. We didn't talk about Formula One, we talked about life in general and it was fantastic."

Published at 08:06:12 GMT